Cats Protection shares ‘urgent’ welfare concerns for extreme cats
The evidence-based review calls for continued research.
Cats Protection has shared ‘urgent’ concern for the welfare of extreme purebred cats, following a review in collaboration with Royal Veterinary College (RVC).
In its review, which the charity describes as ‘the first of its kind’, researchers identify welfare risks that they believe contravene UK animal welfare legislation.
The document considers the five welfare needs, as detailed in UK legislation, alongside feline quality of life assessment tools. This is used to evaluate the impact of extreme traits and husbandry practices.
The review highlighted that extreme conformations, such as brachycephaly and dwarfism, are linked with issues that contravene Animal Welfare Acts. This includes chronic pain, impaired mobility, respiratory compromise and behaviour limitations.
Brachycephalic breeds, including Persians, displayed an increase risk of ocular, dental and respiratory pathology. Meanwhile Scottish Folds may experience osteochondrodysplasia.
Similarly it warns that emerging designer breeds, such as the XL bully cat (a hybrid cat combining the Sphynx and the Munchkin), may be of concern due to their multiple extreme traits.
There were also ethical and welfare questions, based on the behavioural challenges and lack of suitability for domestic environments synonymous with some hybrid cats. Poor breeding practices could also contribute to stress, infectious disease transmission and poor early socialisation.
Researchers have called for the end of breeding cats with folding ears, which they believe pose a clear welfare compromise. Instead they recommend evidence-based breeding in which traits are selected based on welfare impact.
They suggest that research into the welfare impacts of extreme traits should continue, alongside improved regulation of breeding establishments and more public education to address misconceptions about health and behaviour. They also call for collaborative efforts, involving academics, the veterinary profession, the government, animal charities and breeding organisations.
Veterinary professionals are being encouraged to recognise welfare concerns, support clients in making informed decisions when choosing a purebred cat, and advocate for policy change and responsible breeding standards.
Dan O’Neill, professor of companion animal epidemiology at RVC and co-author of the study, said: “This paper draws parallels for cats with the well-documented welfare crisis in brachycephalic dogs and urges the veterinary sector to apply lessons learned there to dissuade owners from acquiring cats with extreme conformation”.
The full study can be found in the journal Animal Welfare.
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